Really seeing: that’s the point

What is it about capturing a brief moment of someone’s life in a still frame? For me, it’s about really seeing my subjects — be they animal, human, or nature. And I think that’s what the allure is… it’s a chance to make a memory of a moment in time that will stand forever.

I’ve had a camera in my hand since the time I was a grade schooler. Granted, it wasn’t MY camera, but that 110 film camera opened up possibilities… chances to learn how to document the beauty (and quirks) of life.

I gradually graduated to a respectable point-and-shoot 35 mm camera when I was in middle school and my father allowed me to play (supervised, of course) with his consumer level 35 mm SLR camera. I fell in love with the Pentax and all the possibilities it held. My friends, of course, didn’t have the appreciation I had for the camera and my first attempts were decent, but amateurish. However, I took the camera everywhere my friends and I went, documenting our exploits. They rolled their eyes and obligingly posed for pictures.

Senior year I took (after much whining to my parents) a course in classic Black and White photography through the art department. It was exhilarating and freeing! I was hopelessly hooked.

When I graduated from High School, and before our big class trip, one of my graduation gifts was my own 35mm camera and some film. I had a ball on our cruise and happily snapped shots of everything I could… friends, the Scotia Price, my friends on the ship, food, sunrise, etc. I was more than hooked. The spark of photojournalism was born in that one special senior year trip.

In college, I continued annoying my friends with my camera and for Christmas got my very first Nikon N-60 SLR film camera. I still have it today although it’s been replaced by two digital Nikons. I don’t have the heart to get rid of it… It’s the impetus for adding photojournalism to my skills in my journalism degree. While the University of Maine didn’t offer much in the photojournalism field, I began toting the camera with me and documenting the people, places, and things around me. I interned at two newspapers and used my skills to accent the stories I wrote with photographs I took. When you work at newspapers where the photographers are usually busy with other assignments (and you’re an intern) having that one blessed skill is paramount to success.

Then I graduated. There were no journalism jobs open in Maine and I didn’t want to move out of state and away from my family and boyfriend. I went to work in the printing field as a typesetter. But when I wasn’t working, I was photographing things around me. Fall leaves, summer flowers, animals (particularly squirrels and horses), my friends and my boyfriend, my family. I learned about lighting through books and magazines. And I continued to become hooked. There was just something about using the camera as a vessel to document events and beauty.

When I got engaged, we looked for a photographer but they were all so expensive (keep in mind this was 2001-2002… things have changed a lot, especially pricing). My parents suggested we have my aunts photograph the Big Day, but I stuck to my guns. My aunts, I knew, would do a decent job… but I wanted them to be free to have fun and relax and visit with the other guests. I didn’t want them to take on the stress of snapping photos all by themselves. Even though we were on a very limited budget ($500 for photos) we managed to find a great guy from the Lincoln area who did weddings as an added income. They came out lovely and that set me thinking… I love weddings and happy events, I could potentially do wedding photography. A year later, my brother-in-law got engaged and with a severely limited budget they asked me to do their photos. I agreed and got hooked. So I did my research on starting a business and opened Bell Imaging & Design in 2003.

A year later I did my first wedding for a client from Nevada who got married in southern Maine. With a successful wedding under my belt and a thirst to photograph these beautiful events, I branched out and did another springtime wedding. Then a reception for one of my co-workers at the Bangor Daily News.The next year I did six more weddings. Then nine more weddings. I’m already off to a great start this season and can’t wait to see the unique things my clients will bring to their nuptials! And the best part of all is that I get to share their day and document every facet. There’s nothing like love to make you love your spouse even more and to remind you that in these hard times, it all comes back to basics… the love and support of friends, family, and neighbors.

I tell everyone that my job at the Bangor Daily News (I started in 2006) is enjoyable too… it’s my bread and butter. But my photography job is a fun-filled job and I LOVE meeting new people and keeping up relationships with old clients.

That’s why my approach is quiet and observant. I’ll arrange and “direct” the group pictures, but it’s not my job to interfere with the Big Day… just document it. That’s where the marriage of photojournalism and artistic touches come into play. I make sure all my client’s photos are the best they can be and will do minor retouching when needed to emphasize the photos.

I take the same approach with my portrait clients and event photography. It’s not my job to direct your session, just provide insight and quiet guidance. I like to let the natural beauty shine through. After all, my start with photography came with photographing my friends and family. And I can’t wait to meet new people! Feel free to visit my Web site at www.bellphotostudio.com to learn more.